Student suspended for alleged use of alcohol during school

A Tonganoxie High football player was suspended last week from school for allegedly consuming alcohol during school.

Tonganoxie High School assistant principal Brent Smith said school officials believe the youth consumed alcohol at school during school hours.

"It was alcohol-related and there was a suspension," Smith said.

Smith declined to comment on the duration of the school suspension.

School officials took the student out of football practice Oct. 30, after suspecting he'd used alcohol during the day. It turned out to be Tonganoxie's final practice of the season, as the team lost the next day to Holton in the Class 4A state playoffs. The player did not suit up for that game.

According to the school's substance abuse policy for school activities, athletes are to be held out of two weeks of practice or two consecutive games or meets, whichever is greater.

That will go into effect during the next athletics season in which the student-athlete is involved, because two weeks of practice, or two games, did not remain in the season.

Smith said he was unsure whether the student is involved in a winter sport.

THS coach Mark Elston declined to comment on the situation.

The alleged incident is the third drug- or alcohol-related episode that has occurred this fall.

In September, six freshmen were suspended for their involvement in the distribution of the prescription drug hydrocodone, more commonly known as Vicodin. Three players were on the football team.

Two other football players were suspended later that month because a school official said they smelled of marijuana when they were in the school.

Police Lt. Billy Adcox said he was not notified about the incident. Adcox said school officials are required to report certain crimes, such as drug activity, fights and incidents involving weapons.

"If they found alcohol, they could probably call us, if found," Adcox said. "One of the things we look at is where it was consumed."